The majority of Windows programmers are interested solely in those exported routines that Microsoft did document. Microsoft have chosen to reserve a large number of these functions for internal use, and they are undocumented. The Windows API is a collection of functions that are exported by the DLLs that make up Windows.
So DLLs export functions and procedures (I'll refer to these generically as functions from now on). The functionality is written as functions and procedures (subroutines that either do or don't return values) and is said to be exported so that other binaries (applications or other DLLs) can gain access to it. When one writes a DLL, one is at liberty to, and indeed encouraged to, write functionality that can be accessed from outside the DLL. What is the Windows API and where does it come from? Well, Windows is cobbled together from a large number of Dynamic Link Libraries (DLLs) with a few drivers thrown in for good measure. This is a sensible question as not everyone has the luxury of knowing these things.
I hope to help you along that path with the information in this paper.
With sufficient readable information and a bit of practice it should be possible to reduce your fear of the API to a level where you merely find it daunting, but manageable. It's a small mercy that the Windows API is targeted at a 3GL audience (C/C++) and not a 2GL audience (assembler). They were documented for assembler programmers. In those days interrupts were the underlying operating system framework and they were scary. It's a bit like when the majority of PC developers used to program under DOS. This is understandable - it is the underlying framework of the operating system and is documented for C and C++ programmers to understand. If you are currently a Borland Delphi developer, but you came from a background involving FoxPro or dBASE or Paradox or some other fourth generation language, there is a good chance that you find the Windows API scary. It will be appreciated however big or small it might be and will encourage Brian to continue researching and writing about interesting subjects in the future. If you find this article useful then please consider making a donation.
Using the Windows API in Delphi Using The Windows API In Delphi
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